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Review

For over 60 years, the Grumman S2F – later designated S-2 – has remained a major fixture in Western anti-submarine arsenals.

Now “Stoofs” get Ginter treatment in the first volume of a two-part history: Grumman S2F/S-2 Tracker: Development, Testing, Variants, and Foreign Users – number 101 in the publisher’s “Naval Fighters” series.

Suitable for carrier- and land-based operations, the compact S2F/S-2 Tracker effectively combined, authors Robert J Kowalski and Tommy H Thomason observe, the roles of hunter and killer. And “Stoofs” remained in widespread international service since the 1950s.

Trackers have appeared as a scale model subjects since the early 1950s. And as usual, Ginter conveniently covers all known offerings – injection-molded, vacuum-formed and resin – in a section of helpful kit and conversion reviews. Just one quibble: that Collect-Aire build-up on page 169 wears Venezuelan – not Argentine – markings.

The Tracker, authors note, “was a brilliant design as evidenced by its longevity and usefulness in a variety of missions” – despite, they add, “the original challenging mission requirement operational restrictions required for operation from small-deck aircraft carriers”.

“Stoof” students: grab this superb study. Then line up behind me for Ginter’s next installment!